Ofwat puts Southern wastewater probe back in the spotlight

Ofwat took the unusual step on Friday of issuing a press statement on an investigation it opened last summer into whether Southern Water has breached its statutory duties and licence obligations regarding the performance of its wastewater treatment sites and compliance reporting. Ofwat did not provide an update or comment at all on the investigation, except to say it is in the process of gathering and reviewing information and will “conclude the investigation as quickly as we can to establish whether or not there has been any contravention and whether we need to take any enforcement action”.

A spokesman elaborated that the regulator felt it “appropriate for reasons of transparency to make the public aware of the fact that we are conducting an investigation”.

Southern Water said it was fully cooperating with the probe but could comment extensively given the investigations are ongoing.

The Ofwat statement came the day after environment secretary Michael Gove called on the regulator to crackdown on water company behaviours that serve to undermine customer trust (see story HERE.)